cross-pollination
krôs″pŏl″ə-nā′shən, krŏs″-
noun
- 1. The transfer of pollen from an anther of a flower of one plant to a stigma of a flower of another plant of the same species.
- 2. Influence or inspiration between or among diverse elements.
- 3. Same as cross-fertilization.
- Cross-pollination helps our world by creating varieties in vegetation that have characteristics of both parent plants but is actually an entirely new variety or creating many more seeds than same-plant pollination.
- This happens naturally in nature. Nature is a beautiful thing, isn't she? But why am I, a writer, healer, and philosopher bringing up cross-pollination?
- Because we live in a world where we are trying desperately to be seen, heard, and noticed. Yet, we are still stuck in boxes of our own making. Boxes like who am I and where do I fit into this world are big boxes. What I'd like to talk about are the little boxes, like who we follow on Instagram.
- I've noticed, and I'm sure you have, too, that people tend to stick with the same followers as they themselves are....for example. I am a writer, a middle-grade novelist, to be more specific. Most of the accounts I follow have to do with books, writing books, reading books, and reviewing books. This is all well and good, and we do support one another as we follow each other, BUT - this type of vanilla following only allows you to learn from and reach the same people over and over again.
- I've noticed the healing pages and philosophy pages do the same thing. They follow each other and try to pitch healing packages or philosophy talks to the same audience over and over.
- It's like we're feeding on each other again and again -
- in a small pool overflowing with the same type of posts and offerings.
- So, how do we gain new readers if we're writers? Clients if we're healers? Students, if we're philosophers?
- You guessed it - Cross-pollination!
- How do you do this?
- Well, for starters, follow different hashtags. If you're into moss, like I am, follow #mossgardens. You will start to see some beautiful gardens which will help your creativity. Oh, and guess what? Moss garden people love to read books.
- Follow accounts that post about the other passions you have - like for me; fairy gardens, moss, lavender fields, tiny homes, old libraries, architecture, feminine rising, female empowerment, women helping women, skateboard art, AI art, and so on....the more friends you make in other boxes, the bigger your audience, and the more fun!
- Also, as a writer for kids' books, I love to support other writers. But I've noticed even though we are getting more and more books published by those who were once ignored or held back, we are not doing a very good job cross-pollinating.
- What do I mean? I mean, we are not buying those books for our kids. Teachers are, but parents aren't. In order to create a more inclusive and loving society, we, the parents, must help our kids read and learn about other people, other races, cultures, ways of living, ways of worshipping, and ways of being. The more children know, the less fear they will have when they come across something out in the world as adults that they are unfamiliar with.
- What can you do?
- Follow writers and authors that are different than you. Support other ways of being and living on this planet. Open up to questions from others about how you live, what you eat, who you worship, and what spiritual practices you enjoy. The more we help each other understand differences are okay and fun, the less fearful the world becomes.
- So -- go cross-pollinate your social media accounts. Get out of your comfortable boxes. Follow someone new. Support those who are different from you. Buy books that have different lead characters. Ask questions to those you are curious about.
- Follow your passions, not just your work.
- The more diverse your followers and who you follow, the more fun and joyful your social media accounts will become.
Write~on, Angie
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